Hand operated propeller drive for boats



Jlme 1967 D. w. SANBORN HAND OPERATED PRQPELLER DRIVE FOR BOATS ME Aw... 43

Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. ONALD ANESORN ATORNEY United States Patent3,323,432 HAND OPERATED PROPELLER DRIVE FOR BOATS Donald W. Sanborn,Itox 262, Laheview, Oreg. 97630 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,271 4Claims. (Cl. 115-24) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in hand operated propeller drives for boats.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a propellerdrive as described having structure facilitating efiicient driving ofthe propeller.

A more particular object is to provide propeller drive means asdescribed which has an arrangement of parts which form a stabilized handoperated drive and one which is readily maneuverable in the handpropelling of the boat.

Briefiy stated, the invention comprises apparatus which may be attachedto a small boat and which employs hand crank means for operating apropeller. The apparatus includes a main frame which supports a bracketfor attachment to the boat and also support means for the journaledoperation of the hand crank and the propeller. The parts are arranged toprovide for stability of the apparatus when hand driven.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects willbecome apparent from the following specification and claims, consideredtogether with the accompanying drawings, wherein the numerals ofreference indicate like parts and wherein:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of the presenthand operated propeller drive for boats;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view taken on the line4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the present hand operatedpropeller drive comprises an upright frame or plate having a forwardlydisposed, integral cross member 12 from which depends a spindle 14.Spindle 14 is arranged for journaled engagement in an upright socket 16having a right angle bracket arm 18 integrated therewith. Bracket arm 18threadedly supports a pair of screws 20 having enlarged abutment ends 22on one end and pivoted operating levers 24 on the other end. Integratedwith the socket 16 is an abutment plate 26, and as apparent in FIGURE 1wherein a boat 28 is shown in phantom lines, the frame It] is adapted tobe clamped on the transom of the boat by fitting the bracket over saidtransom. The abutment plate 26 and the screws 20 then engage oppositesides of the transom, and by tightening the screws the apparatus issecurely anchored to the boat. The spindle support of the frame 10 inthe socket 16 allows for pivotal movement of said frame relative to theboat.

integrally supported on the upper end of frame 10 in longitudinaldisposition therewith is a socket 3G in which is journaled a horizontalportion 32 of a hand crank 34, the crank portion 34 being disposedforwardly of the socket so as to be disposed interiorly of the boat andavailable for operation by an operator in the boat.

The horizontal portion 32 of the crank projects rearwardly from thesocket 30 and has a bevel gear 36 secured thereon. This bevel gearmeshes with a bevel gear 38 on a vertical shaft 40 journaled in a socketmember 4-2 integrated in depending relation with rear portion of frame10. In a preferred structure, the exposed. gears 36 and 38 are containedin a box-like housing 43 open at its rearward end.

Socket member 42 carries at its lower end a propeller housing 44 inwhich is journaled a propeller shaft 46. Propeller housing 44 is formedof two parts 44a and 44b releasably held together by studs 47. Shaft 46has a propeller 48 secured on one projecting end thereof and also hassecured thereto interiorly of the housing a bevel gear 56) meshing witha bevel gear 52 secured on the lower end of shaft 4t? which projectsinto the housing 44. Thus, upon operation of the crank 34 the propelleris rotated in a drive function in either direction.

Threadedly mounted in the spindle socket 16 is a set screw 54 the outerend of which carries a pivoted operating lever 56. As seen in FIGURE 3,the set screw 54 projects interiorly of the socket 16 and is arranged toengage the spindle 14 whereby to anchor the spindle and therefore thedrive portion of the apparatus in a stationary position. Or, if desired,the set screw 54 may be only partially tightened on the spindle wherebyto allow forced turning movement of the drive apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention there is thus provided a handoperated propeller apparatus for attachment to a small boat. Aparticular feature of this apparatus is the location of the pivotsupport point for the apparatus, namely, one which is disposed at aforward part of the frame. That is, as will be seen in FIGURE 1, theprincipal portion of the propeller drive mechanism projects rearwardlyfrom the pivot point 16, and when the hand crank 34 is operated theshort lever association between the crank and the pivot point 16prevents appreciable wobbling back and forth of the pivoted portion.With the propeller suspended in Water the lateral resistance thereonwill also stabilize the pivoted portion and the operator can rotate thecrank freely without appreciable wobble. The present device also has asa feature thereof a hand operated boat drive mechanism which issimplified in construction and readily operable by a single operator.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hand operated propeller drive apparatus for boats comprising abracket for mounting said apparatus on a boat, frame means pivotallymounted on said bracket, drive shaft means rotatably supported. on saidframe means, a propeller on one end of said drive shaft means arrangedfor driving disposition in the water, and crank means on the other endof said drive shaft means for rotatably operating said propeller, saidbracket having forward and rearward portions and having means on theforward portion thereof for pivotally mounting said frame means thereon.

2. A hand operated propeller drive apparatus for boats comprising abracket for mounting said apparatus on a boat, frame means pivotallymounted on said bracket, drive shaft means rotatably supported on saidframe means, a propeller on one end of said drive shaft means arrangedfor driving disposition in the water, and crank means on the other endof said drive shaft means for rotatably operating said propeller, saidframe means having forward and rearward portions and the pivotconnection thereof with said bracket being located adjacent the forwardportion of the frame means whereby to provide a leverage whichstabilizes the frame: when said crank means is rotated.

aszaaea 3. A hand operated propeller drive apparatus in combination witha boat comprising a bracket on said apparatus mounting the latter on theboat, frame means pivotally mounted on said bracket, the pivotconnection between said frame means and said bracket comprising a socketand spindle connection disposed interiorly of the boat, drive shaftmeans rotatably supported on said frame means, a propeller on one end ofsaid drive shaft means arranged for driving disposition in the Water,and crank means on the other end of said drive shaft means for rotatablyoperating said propeller.

4. The hand operated propeller drive apparatus of claim 3 including setscrew means on said socket engageable with said spindle for controllingpivotal movement of said frame means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner.

1. A HAND OPERATED PROPELLER DRIVE APPARATUS FOR BOATS COMPRISING ABRACKET FOR MOUNTING SAID APPARATUS ON A BOAT, FRAME MEANS PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET, DRIVE SHAFT MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAIDFRAME MEANS, A PROPELLER ON ONE END OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT MEANS ARRANGEDFOR DRIVING DISPOSITION IN THE WATER, AND CRANK MEANS ON THE OTHER ENDOF SAID DRIVE SHAFT MEANS FOR ROTATABLY OPERATING SAID PROPELLER, SAIDBRACKET HAVING FORWARD AND REARWARD PORTIONS AND HAVING MEANS ON THEFORWARD PORTION THEREOF FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID FRAME MEANS THEREON.